Guzmania plant named ‘Duraode’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Guzmania×Vriesea  hybrid cultivar named ‘Duraode’ is disclosed, characterized by a unique inflorescence shape and color.

Latin name of the genus and species: Guzmania×Vriesea hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Duraode’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety originated from a cross pollination of the seed parent, Guzmanialingulata×wittmackii with the pollen parent, a Vriesea of unknownspecies, performed by the inventor in 1999.

It was discovered by the inventor, Chester Skotak Jr., a citizen ofCosta Rica, in Ajauela, Costa Rica during October 2001, in a group ofseedlings resulting from the 1999 crossing.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Duraode’ was first performedin Belgium by tissue culture in October 2004. ‘Duraode’ has sinceproduced several generations by micro-propagation and has shown that theunique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Duraode’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duraode’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Duraode’ as a new and distinct Guzmania×Vrieseahybrid cultivar:

-   -   1. Unique inflorescence shape.    -   2. Unique inflorescence color.    -   3. Suitability as an indoor pot plant.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Duraode’ are similar to both parentvarieties in some horticultural characteristics. However, ‘Duraode’differs from both the seed and pollen parents in having a differentinflorescence shape.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘Duraode’ is best compared to the commercial variety Guzmania‘Patricia,’ filed for US plant patent, with unknown serial number.Plants of ‘Patricia’ are similar to plants of ‘Duraode’ in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, ‘Duraode’ has a widerinflorescence, and has an inflorescence in three colors, red, orange andyellow, compared to an all red inflorescence of ‘Patricia’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘Duraode’ grown in a greenhouse. This plant isapproximately 2 years old, shown in an 12 cm pot. The photograph wastaken using conventional techniques and although colors may appeardifferent from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurateas possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Duraode’ plants grown in a climate controlledgreenhouse in Evergem, the Netherlands. Temperatures ranged from 20° C.to 28° C. night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatmentsor chemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Guzmania×Vriesea hybrid cultivar    ‘Duraode’.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright, flattened sphere, forming compact rosettes    around a single axis. One straight, upright inflorescence arising    from the center of plant.-   Height: Approximately 40.8 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 49.4 cm in a 12 cm pot.-   Normal pot size: 9, 11, 12 and 15 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Upright, non-branching.-   Number of leaves per stem: Approximately 29.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 2 years.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled, single occurring basal rosettes.        -   Average length.—Approximately 25.4 cm.        -   Average width.—Average 4.0 cm, narrowest 3.6 cm, widest 4.3            cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ligulate.        -   Aspect.—Slightly recurved.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Sheathing.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, moderately glossy.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, moderately glossy.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green N137B, base            lighter, near Yellow-green 146C. Young foliage under side:            Near RHS Yellow-green 146A, base lighter, near Yellow-green            146C. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green N137B, base            lighter, near Yellow-green 146B. Mature foliage under side:            Near RHS Yellow-green 146A, base lighter, near Yellow-green            146C.        -   Venation.—Type: Parallel. Venation coloration:            Identical/Indistinguishable from foliage.-   Petiole: Not present, sessile.

INFLORESCENCE

-   General description: Simple spike(scape) consisting of many bracts    only. No individual flowers are visible. Spike emerges from the    center of the rosette. Inflorescence is formed by conspicuous    bracts.    -   -   Inflorescence height(excluding peduncle.—11 cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—19.3 cm.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—29.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.8 cm.        -   Aspect.—Very straight, 90° angle to rosette.        -   Strength.—Very strong.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-green 145C.-   Bracts:    -   -   Shape.—Ligulate.        -   Length.—Average 8.9 cm.        -   Width.—Average 2.6 cm.        -   Tip.—Acute.        -   Base.—Sheathed.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Outermost bract coloration.—Upperside: Near RHS Red 42B.            Underside: Near RHS Red 45A.        -   Innermost/interior bract coloration.—Upperside: Not visible,            fully attached. Underside: Near Orange-Red 32A. Outermost            Tip: Near RHS Yellow-Orange-17B.        -   Scape bract coloration.—Upperside: Near RHS Yellow-green            144A, base Yellow-green 145B, slightly tinged Red 39B.            Underside: Near RHS Yellow-green 146B, base Yellow-green            150D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Observed to tolerate    temperatures to 40° C. without any negative effects. Temperature    tolerance above this range has not been observed. Tolerance of cold    temperatures has not been observed.-   Fruit/seed production: Not observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Guzmania×Vriesea hybrid plant named‘Duraode’ as herein illustrated and described.